Carbonator



Dec- 15 l931 N. LOMBARD 1,836,329

l cARBoNAToR Filed March 21, 1931 -lll .Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED. STATES PATENT ori-ics NATHAIEL LOMBARD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T EDWARD F. COFFIN, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS GARBONATOR Application led March 2l, 1931. Serial No. 524,24.

The present invention pertains to structural and functional betterments in liq-uid-V carbonators, and relates more partieularly,but not necessarily exclusively, to that type of appliance which is commonly em loyed to provide a supply of the carbonated everave, or so-called soda-water dispensed at so afountains.

The customary method in using carbonators employed for this purpose has been to force carbon-dioxide gas, under substantial pressure, into a considerable quantity of water, which, as thus charged, is then stored in auxiliary coolers until required for consumption.

Most of the present devices of this character.are not only complicated in construction and difficult to maintain in ad`ustment, but they are also expensive to ro uce.

This new invention, on t e other hand, is extremely simple in its embodiment in practical form, requiring substantially no attention while in service, and can be manufactured and sold at a compartively low cost, thus rendering its benefits available to a large number of users who could not afford to pay for the more intricate and expensive appliance.

This invention also successfully overcomes a fault common to carlionators of the Waterpressure type by providing effective means whereby the volumes of gas and water, respectively, which are admited to the carbonator automatically, will be maintained at a sulstantially-constaut and predetermined ratio regardless of material variations in the pressure. of the water employed.

'hen an appliance incorporating this invention is used, no stored supply of sodawatcr is required, and every glass of the spor-tively, which are admitted to the carbonated, as drawn, thereby producing a beverage of more cffervescent quality than has been possible previously. Y

Separate coolers heretofore havebeen necessary in connection with soda-fountains for plain waterad soda-water, but, by taking advantage of this invention, only ordinary, plain water will be required to'be cooled in advance of its use, and all such water will be potentially available for carbonated sodawater,-thereby increasingr or doubling the present capacity of th apparatus.

While, inthe pastrthe uniform idea governing earbonating methods used in the d ispensing of soda-water at soda-fountains has been to secure practically-complete saturation of the water with the gas, resulting in the formation of carbonio aci mixing-chambers of various forms having een employed to accomplish this result, it has now been discovered that, when the carbonating ractice applies to soda-water to be dispensed) by the glass, such complete gas-saturation is not only unnecessary, but is, in fact, undesirable.

The highly satisfactory results accruing from using the present invention demonstrate that a more sparkling, lively and bubbling beverage results from-merely impregnating the water with a suitable amount of quickly evolved gas, retaining these elements in a mechanical relationship, rather than permitting them to combine chemically to form loarbonic acid, and, for this reason, appliances incorporating the new invention do not employ a mixing-chamber.

Although the new carbonator is especially suited to meet the requirements for use in soda-fountains or other carbonated-beverage dispensing devices or systems, it can be satisfactorily employed for bottlers use, and, when thus used, the gas-impregnated water discharged from the carbonator would require introduction into a separate container or storage receptacle where complete saturation could be effected and the mixture quieted before passing into the bottlefillingr machine.

The especial value of the new device for bottlers use is due to the opportunitydt af-i fords of proportioning accurately the ratio of gas and water at all times, thereby effecting large economies in gas consumption.

To enable those skilled in this art to understand the invention fully, a present, preferred embodiment of the same has been illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, to which reference should be had in connection with the following description, like reference numerals, for simplicity, designating the same parts in the two figures.

In these drawings,-

F ig. 1 is a perspective view of such preferred form of the appliance; and

Fig. 2 is an upright cross-`sectionthrough the vertical, middle plane of the carbonator, this view representing the several parts of the device in their respective posit-ions when the carbonator is not in operation.

Referring to these drawings, it will be perceived that the improved and novel appliance includes a hollow or tubular casting`r 11 having at one end a water-inlet 12 leading inwardly directly to a water-@chamber 13, the. exterior of such end of the member 11 being screw-threaded at 10 for the attach- .nient kif-fthe required water-supply' pipe or conduit (not shown);

In ordinary practice, such end of the apparatus 1s connected to the city \\'atermam `with its Water under substantial, but somewhat varying, pressure.

Chamber 13; communicates directly withvv an aligned, enlarged` cylindrical cavity l-l, with a circular shoulder 15 at their junction, such chamber 1.4 ac'comnxodatinpr a coiled springr 16 bearingY at its inner end against the shoulder, and pressing at its other extremity againsta rou-nd, disclike center-piecev or but ton 17 having aprojectionor boss 18 fittingv inside of the. adjacent end of the spring,1r to maintain theparts in proper assembled relation:

On the'opposite face ofthe element v17 another central boss or projection 10 extends through registering holesxin a flexible diaphragm 21 ,and afmetal Washer W lwafrinpr against the outer surf-ace of the diaphragm and secured to the part 17'b'y a number oi rivets 23, which, of course, occupjv suitable holesin'vthe diaphragm provided 'for their accommodation. A

The left-hand end' of casting 11 has f substantial, circular enlargement vrete ed to provide-a cylindrical compartment Z5 which isof materially greater diameter than the part 17 which it accommodates and which is in direct communication` with chambers 1.4

and 13. j

'Around its periphery, member: has a ^rcular llange`26 detinimqr a largier.y round c y shorten smaller section'38 with the innerjcnds of a plurality (jf-*aperlifglig side of the valve 35.

` low, downward extension 43 afiid'ingiwi-'th'i l screw-threaded plug ll-valnd rssasae Member 28, on its inner face, has around gas chamber or recess 31 opposite and matching the Water-chamber 25 on the other side of the diaphragm, and it also has an outwardlyprojecting .hollow or tubular, externally site the center of the boss 19.

A hollow or tubular gas-valve 35 is slidahle lengthwise in such cylinder 33, and it has a tapered or conical-shaped nose 36. conshaped valve-seat 34, Vwhich is'diiectlyoppo# 75 stituting the valve proper, coacting with the S0 valve-seat 34 and' adapted to to close the gas-port.

As is clearly shown iniFig I nose 3G extends a short dist-ance i 31 in the closed position'of .suoli`l rPhe-cavity in valve 35has`z .section 37 open at its outer e'rildfa nicatingir at its, inner end directly tures 39 leadingto the outer loli-"t efother wise-closed, tapered nose or A tienesection' oli? the valve outwardly heyondtllc I'Valife-seat,-'j all as is clearly shown in Fig?. "i

A coiled springr 41 occupies the (ufvlt-yNYT-5955.w

and presses at. one end againsttw eshould'crzit the junction of the two cavities37 an'dl 38of' different calibers, and, at its ther ext-rc"faityzA against a centrally perforated''or3 apcr't-urfedif wlug 42 screwed into the eiidiitjif-'the'piart 93?, the latter being threadedonfil explained, for the' coupling theretoE o ,fj p

conduit leading trema 'cbfmpr'ssdda's ly-tank Ithrt'uigh f a vp1essliieie'gillatnigl wit-, ma 0f which arel 'affili-falen frate-a# and usual construction, andne'itl'er of ijv'hich;V has been illustrated. lll Thus. at a substantially unchangijliig'f-lA pressure,byreason of the operation: th regulator, admitted into anwfp'resent v 'U i Casting 11. intermediate itslids), iafsa, i

t netparty-af apartar-nsf top with a gas-nozzle 46 screw'd'm o l 'i ed hole in thewall of the casti n Y ing; Tveli up into or through amber 13. j 5

"Such nozzle opens at its loiie space 44. and its upper end has. lgas-discharge port 47. j'

Chamber 4,4, and thereto' the nozzle. is at all times in dtiiiiiii'hln'ica with asd-amber 314 by meaiilsirf 5j" t through the members 43 antifa] terrcping. Hollow connection@Qianlai] 51 through the marginal porllilonloil/t pliragm, and a passage .5i/L in member Q8. i i

it a gas space 44 closed at4 alI 'nection between From the foregoing, it will be clear that the gas-spaces 44 and 31 and the condult conthem constitute in effect a single gas-chamber.

Directly opposite the downward extension 43, casting l1 has a corresponding or complemental, hollow or tubular, upper extension 53 having a relatively-long and comparatively-large passage or port 54 through its lower part, opening into the water-chamber 13 around the gas-nozzle 46.

Such port is substantially larger in crosssection than, and is in direct alignment with, the gas-nozzle 46, and the latter may extend up into such ort a short distance, if desired; Fig. 2 ofp the drawings showing a present, preferred arrangement of these parts.

Port 54 at its upper end opens into a larger,

cylindrical valve-chamber 55, which, in turn, at its top connects with a still-larger, cylindrical, dashpot chamber 56, the upper end of which is internally screw-threaded at 57.

y hollow,A cylindrical valve-member 58 litsr and slides 1n the cylinder 55, its lower end being formed as a relatively-long conevalve 59 arranged and adapted to co-operate and to open and close simultanenously the gas-port 47 of the gas-nozzle 46 and the upper end of the water-port 54.

Such double-valve member 58 has a round cavity 61 therein, open at its top end and connecting at its bottom end with a smaller chamber 62 joined b a plurality of radial holes 63 to the outer ace of the cone-valve 59 above the top end of port 54.

Such valve is pressed down to its two valve-Seats around its pair of ports by a coiled spring 64 occupying the recess 61 and acting at its lower end on the bottoni wall of such cavity, and pressing at its top end against a shoulder 65 in a centrally-apertuied plug or connector 66 screwed into the upper end of part 53, the terminal ortion of such screw plug being screw-threa ed on its outside for connection toa pipe or conduit leading to a faucet-equipped soda-fountain draft-arm (not shown) y Valve 58 at its top has an outstanding, circular flange 157 fitting the space 56, and the two constitute in effect a dash ot structure steadying the action of the dbuble valve and preventing it from chattering.

he operation of the improved carbonator occurs substantially as follows:

Assuming that the water-inlet 12 has been connected with a source of plain water, under pressure, usually the city service main, and that the gas-inlet 32 has been joined to a drum of compressed carbon-dioxide gas more than ordinary Water-pressure will be maintained in the valve 35, and that the part 66 has been connected to the usual soda-fountain draft-arm, when the valve or faucet of the latter is closed, the several parts of the appliance will occupy the positions and relations depicted in Fig. 2, the spring 64 being of sufiicient strength to hold the cone-valve 59 down to close the two ports 54 and 47 against the action of the water and gas pressures acting thereon tending to open the valve.

Vere no such spring employed, the pres-l sures on the two sides of the Valve would be practically balanced and there would be no assurance that the two ports were closed.

It will be observed that the water-pressure of the main is always applied to one side of this pressure is supplemented or augmented by that of the spring 16, and that the gaspressure in chamber 31 is acting on the opposite side of the diaphragm, these opposing pressures being balanced, so that the diaphragm occupies the central or neutral position illustrated.

Under these circumstances, valve 36 is closed, thus breaking the connection between the supply of gas and the united chambers 31 and 44.

When the valve or faucet of the soda-water draft-arm is opened, the carbonated water already contained within the valve-chamber 55 flows out speedily, thereby producing an immediate pressure reduction in the valve.

The city water in port 54, being now at a. higher pressure, overcomes the slight action on the valve exerted by the spring 64 and lifts the valve-member 58 and its cone-valve 59 upwardly olf of the valve-seat at the upper end of port 54 and simultaneously opens the gas-port .47 of the gas-nozzle 46.

hen the valve is raised in this manner, the carbon-dioxide water thus carbonated then passes through 59, and

fiowing through the central passage 61, is discharged th rough the outlet member 66 into the pipe which connects with the draft-arm, through which it-is dispensed into the glass. s soon as the draft-arm is thus set in valve 36 is always closed, v against its valve-seat 34 due to the gas-pressure, exerted direct from the gas-regulator through the hole of plug 42 and into chamber 33, where it acts directly on the sliding valvemember 35, this pressing action of the gas being supplemented by that of spring 41.

When, however, the faucet or valve in the draft-arm is opened, resulting in the substantially-simultaneous unseating of valve 59 on the gas-nozzle, with the resulting opening of its port 47, the gas previously co ned within the diaphragm-chamber 31 escapes through the connected passages 52, 51, 48, 44, and the passage through the gas-nozzle 46, thereby producing a lowering of the pressure on the side of the diaphragm adjacent to the gasvalve 36.

Following this reduction in gas-pressure, the higher water-pressure on the other side of the diaphragm, combined with the action of s ring 16, iexes the diaphragm to the left, as t e arts are viewed in Fig. 2, carrying the metal button 17 in the same direction until its projection 19 pushes against the end of gas-valve 36, forcin it away from its seat 34 and thus opening t e gas-valve.

By reason of such valve opening, the carbon-dioxide gas in chambers 37 and 38 of the sliding-valve-member flows through the perforations 39 and the gas-port into the chamber 31 and its associated connection 52, 51, 48, 44 and 46, bringing about the escape of the gas through the nozzle-port 47, with the resulting continued carbonation of the water, as has already been described.

So long as the valve or faucet in the draftarm remains open, the volumes of water and gas will continue to flow in exactly proportioned amounts, as controlled b the opera tion of valve 59, and when the aucet in the draft-arm is closed, the operation of the carbonator terminates instantly, the valve 59 immediately automatically seating itself and closing the two ports 54 and 47, due to the action of spring 64.

This, of course, automatically shuts off all further intake of water and gas and restores the pressures on the two sides of the diaphragm to the equilibrium which regularly exists when the carbonator is not operated.

Valve 36 closes on its valve-seat and the carbonator returns to the conditions which prevailed previously to being set into operation by the opening of the valve in the draftarm.

In order to obtain the advanta ous results specified in the improved type o carbonator, the construction omits any component element of structure designed or adapted to perform the usual function of a mixing-chamber, and this constitutes one of the unique features of the invention and diferentiates it from other types of carbonators heretofore used.

Due to the almost simultaneous discharge of the carbonated water from the draft-arm, directly and immediately after the plain water has received its proportioned volume of gas, a less permanent combination of the carbon-dioxide gas with the water is effected than is the case when 'a mixing chamber is em loyed.

or a satisfactory glass of soda-water, the principal aim is to obtain as sparkling and eervescent an aerated beverage as can be produced, and in the new appliance incorporating this invention such desirable result is achieved by keeping the respective voluines of water and gas in an impermanent or unstable combination, whereby to bring about a. speedier release or discharge of the gas from the water when dispensed from the draft-arm of the soda apparatus.

The carbonated water dispensed or delivered by means of this appliance exhibits a hlgher degree of effervescence at the moment of dispensing than is possible when the discharged water has absorbed the carbon-diox- 1de gas into a more permanent or lasting combination through the employment of a mixing-chamber.

Another outstanding feature of this invention is that the amount of gas fed to the water 1s automatically controlled by the pressure of the latter, and, since the speed of water delivery or ow is substantially proportional to its pressure, then a definite, unchangeable and predetermined ratio of gas to water results, regardless of how much the water-pressure may vary, it being remembered that city serv- 1ce water-pressures are subject to substantial modifications under ordinary conditions.

`Inasmuch as the sizes of the two ports 47 and 54 are fixed with relation to one another, and since the same valve controls the openin andclosing of both, the ratio of water an gas would remain constant provided their pressures did not vary.

It is desirable to have the gas at a higher pressure than that of the water, and this difference is determined by the stren h of spring 16, whose action on the diap ragm supplements that of the water-pressure thereon, or, in other words, the action of the spring opposes the pressure of the gas on the diaphragm.

If, for example, the water-pressure in the service main, and consequently in chambers 13 and 25, decreased, then, during the operation of the carbonator, the gas-valve will be opened a less degree, maintaining a correspondingly-reduced pressure in chambers 31 and 44, so that a less quantity of gas will'be fed to the diminished quantity of delivered water, such lessened amount of water discharged from the appliance being due to its reduced pressure therein.

Conversely, if the water-pressure is increased, a greater quantity of water will flow through the apparatus, and gas at a higher pressure and in a correspondingly-increased amount will be fed into the water.

Stated somewhat otherwise, since the amount of flow of water through the apparatus depends upon the water-pressure and since the amount of How of as depends upon the gas-pressure at the nozz e, and due to the fact that such gas-pressure is controlled directly by the water-pressure, the desired ratio of gas to water can be kept substantially unvarying even though the water-pressure undergoes material changes.

hose acquainted with the art will readily understand that the invention as defined y the appended claims is not limited or restricted lo the precise and exact details of vaiitages.

I claim:

l. In a carbonator, the combination of a hollow body having means to admit liquid (under pressure thereiiito, having means to admit gas under pressure into said body and into the liquid therein, and having means adapted to deliver the gas-charged liquid therefrom into a faucet-equipped dispensingapparatus, a first valve controlling the flow of liquid through the carbonator, a second valve controlling the flow of gas into the liquid, means to open and close said valves substantially-simultaneously with the corresponding operation of said faucet, a third valve governing the flow of gas into the carand means subjected to the opposed the liquid and gas pressures in the carbonator controlling the action of .said third valve to maintain a substantially-constaiit volume-ratio of gas to liquid in the gas-charged liquid delivered from the earboiiator. f

2. In a carbonator, the combination of a hollow body having means to admit liquid under pressure thereinto, having means to admit gas under pressure into said body and of liquid through the carbonator, a second valve controllin the low of gas into the liquid in the car onator, means to open and close said valves substantially-simultaneousl With the corresponding operation of said fucet, a third valve governing the flow of gas into the carbonator, and automatic means maintain a substantially-constaiit volumeratio of gas to liquid in the gas-charged liquid delivered from the carbonator including a diaphragm subjected on one side to the liquid pressure in the carbonator and subjected on its other side to the gas pressure in the carbonator.

3. In a carbonator, the combination of a to admit gas under pressure into said body and therein, and having means adapted to deliverthe gas-charged liquid faucet-equipped dispensingmaintain a substantially-constant volumeratio of gas to liquid' in the gas-charged liquid delivered from the carbonator including a diaphragm subjected on one side to the liquid pressure in the carbonator and on its opposite side to In a carbonator, the hollow body having means under pressure tliereinto, having means to admit gas under pressure into said body and into the liquid'therein, and having means said gas-inlet valve, the fl phragm under said spring pressures opening said gas-inlet valve,

combination of a hollow body having means to admit liquid having means to passes as it fiows through the carbonator and a. smaller concentric conical gas-valve port through which the gas flows into the li uid, a conical valve adapted to o en and close oth of said ports simultaneous y, a third valve governing the ow of gas into the carbonator, 5 and automatic means controlling the action of said third valve to maintain a substantiall -constant volume-ratio of gas to liquid in t e gas-charged liquid delivered from the carbona'wr. l In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. 4

ATHANEL LOMBARD. [n 5.] 

